Secret Ballot Watch

The American people expect every area of the federal government to be focused on removing barriers to job creation, helping expand opportunities to America’s workers.

So many may be wondering why President Obama renominated Craig Becker to serve on the National Labor Relations Board.

Readers of Secret Ballot Watch are well aware of Becker.

Becker, a former labor lawyer, was first nominated to serve on the NLRB by President Obama in July of 2009. His nomination quickly ran into bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Senate, yet the president used a recess appointment to install the controversial nominee on the board.

Past statements by Becker suggest he views the NLRB as a vehicle to advancing a radical agenda on behalf of powerful special interests. Here are just a few highlights:

“We can envision a meeting of employers and unions in the industry in which they agree that they should act cooperatively to increase government funding and to avoid the waste of scarce resources on bitter election campaigns by permitting employees to decide whether to be represented by a union through a card check, knowing exactly what it will mean if they do, and without employer opposition.” [Note: Statement coauthored with Jonathan Hiat]

“On these latter issues employers should have no right to be heard in either a representation case or an unfair labor practices case…”

“Similarly, employers should have no right to raise questions concerning voter eligibility or campaign conduct.”

“Just as U.S. Citizens cannot opt against having a congressman, workers should not be able to choose against having a union as their monopoly-bargaining agent.”

The NLRB is supposed to prevent unfair labor practices against workers regardless of whether committed by employers or unions. However, during his time on the board, Becker has written and supported board decisions that favor Big Labor over the interests of rank-and-file workers.

While the administration advances the interests of Big Labor and Democrats in Congress hold mock hearings to call for more government spending, Republicans in Congress will continue to fight on behalf of America’s workers and their families.

House Republicans are following the advice of 222 American economists who have said Washington needs to cut spending to help spur job creation.

This week the Department of Labor will report on the state of the nation’s job market. After 20 consecutive months of unemployment above 9 percent, the president should follow the lead of Republicans in Congress and focus his efforts on protecting jobs for America’s workers – not protecting Craig Becker.

This week, we’re taking a look back at five ways we’ve made America better during the 115th Congress. Today we’re talking about providing health care options to millions of small business employees. h......
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